"For so long, it’s been about parents who didn’t love enough," says Hines. "People are realizing that parents who love too much are funny, too."

John Lithgow's Don Whitaker gives big love to his son Brad (Will Ferrell) in 'Daddy's Home 2.'(Photo: Claire Folger, Paramount)

John Lithgow's 'Daddy' brings home the family lip lock

Lithgow's Don Whitaker makes a big first impression when he greets his son Brad (Ferrell) at the airport with the Whitaker family's wet kiss on the lips. The concept was Ferrell's idea, but Lithgow was fully warned.

"My agent told me about it," says Lithgow. "I laughed then, when I read it, and the entire crew laughed their heads off when we first did it on set."

Naturally, this airport scene required multiple takes and angles. "So John and Will were basically making out all day," writer/director Sean Anders cracks.

Lithgow, 72, loves the endearing goofball relationship between the two grown men and says he shares many of Don's big-hearted attributes as the dad of three now-grown children (sons Ian, 45, and Nathan, 34, and daughter Phoebe, 35).

"I am sloppy sentimental. I do play endless car games. And I probably talk too much," says Lithgow. "As my children grew up, they gradually grew tired of me. But we are very loving and they accept me, warts and all."

There are limits. The Lithgow clan would draw the line should he enact the Whitaker family kiss-greeting in real life. "Good Lord, they would be horrified," says Lithgow. "But we're big huggers."

Hines also relates to the running gag of Sandy's frequent sniffing of Kiki's hair. She confesses to doing the same thing with her own daughter: "I like to feel her hair, smell her skin and stand next to her. I know it drives her crazy. And it’s only going to get worse."

She has been surprised that women have approached her saying they relate to Sandy's overaffection. Hines wants to keep it real.

"Keep a lot of it to yourself. Fight your instinct to sniff hair," she says. "And every once in a while, when the timing is right, tell your daughters how much you love them."